Wetland trail to Rainforest

A great one-way walk covering some of the highlights of this part of Wyrrabalong National Park. The walk starts off through some beautiful wetland forest, before passing through areas of fantastic, twisted Sydney Redgums and Burrawang cycads. A couple a lookouts provide great views and spots to relax before the walk drops to the edge of Tuggerah lake. Towards the end, the walk passes through some beautiful rainforest with towering cabbage palms. Much of the walk is on sandy tracks.

(0km) End of Evans Rd → Redgum lookout

1.6 km

27 mins

39m

-15m

Moderate track

From the end of Evans Rd, Toukley, the walk passes around a gate, passes an information board and ‘Wyrrabalong National Park’ sign, and follows the bush track. The track winds through the swampy forest for a while, crossing a small wooden bridge, before passing a ‘Wetlands’ information board, on the right. The track then meanders through the forest for some time, passing a ‘Wetlands Trail’ sign, to the right. The forest becomes drier and the track becomes wider and sandy as it undulates through the forest to reach the intersection with the ‘Red Gum Track’.Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the right arrow on the ‘Red Gum Trail’ sign, along the sandy bush track. The track immediately drops through a gully and meanders up the other side. This section of the walk climbs and drops a little as it passes through very nice forest, with twisted tree branches leaning over the trail. The track passes a ‘Red Gum Forest’ information board, to the left, and continues for while to reach a wooden lookout platform with atmospheric views to the north and north-east.

Redgum lookout

This unnamed lookout is in the Wyrrabalong National park, north of The Entrance and provides views to the north across part of Tuggerah Lake and Toukley. The lookout is on the Redgum Trail and consists of a fenced wooden platform with a seat. This is a nice, atmospheric spot to take a break on the walk.

(1.56km) Redgum lookout → Tuggerah lake lookout

710 m

11 mins

4m

-4m

Moderate track

Turn left: From the lookout, the walk follows the sandy bush track to the west, leaving the lookout platform behind and to the right. The sandy track undulates through nice forest and bends to the left (south) and continues for some distance, offering glimpses of Tuggerah lake, to the right, and the ocean, to the left. The track then reaches another wooden lookout platform, a little to the right of the track, with great views to the west, over Tuggerah lake.

Tuggerah Lake lookout

This unnamed lookout provides views across Tuggerah Lake, north of The Entrance. The lookout is on the Redgum Trail and consists of a fenced wooden platform with a seat. the beautiful views and atmosphere make this a great spot for a break during a walk in the area.

(2.27km) Tuggerah lake lookout → Tuggerah lake vista

1.6 km

28 mins

17m

-46m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the lookout, the walk follows the sandy bush track to the south, leaving the lookout platform behind and to the right. This section of the walk also undulates through nice forest on a sandy track. The walk then reaches the intersection with ‘The Lilly Pilly Loop Trail’.Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the right arrow on the ‘Lilly Pilly Loop Trail’ sign, along the sandy bush track, going up the hill. The track undulates through nice forest for some distance, with sections of erosion control board walkway, and timber retaining walls. From here, the track offers great views of the lake, and passes through increasingly moist forest, before dropping a little and running along the edge of Tuggerah lake. After running along the lake edge for a while, the walk reaches a lakeside vista where the track bends sharply to the left (heading away from the lake, into a thick, shaded section of forest).

Tuggerah Lake vista

This informal, unnamed spot at the edge of Tuggerah Lake, north of The Entrance, has beautiful views across the lake. These views, combined with the nearby area of rainforest, provide beautiful scenery on walks in the area.

Lilly Pilly loop rainforest

This area of littoral rainforest is on the Lilly Pilly loop walk, in Wyrrabalong National Park, north of The Entrance. This small remnant of rainforest is dominated by cabbage palms, corkwoods and tuckeroos. There are nice views across Tuggerah lake from the edge of the forest as well.

Moderate track

Veer left: From the lakeside vista, the walk follows the bush track, going into the thick, shaded forest, away from Tuggerah lake. This beautiful section of the walk passes through an area of littoral rainforest. The walk passes a ‘Rainforests’ information board, to the right and continues through the forest. As the walk climbs a little, the forest becomes drier. The walk continues along a ridge line for a short distance to reach the intersection signposted ‘Lilly Pilly Loop Link Trail’.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the level, sandy management trail towards the nearby road (opposite direction to the signpost arrow). After a short distance, the trail bends to the right and goes down hill a little. The walk passes an information board and ‘Lilly Pilly Loop Trail’ sign before going around a gate and arriving at the car park on the Central Coast Hwy, aka Wilfred Barret Dr (about 5.5 km north of The Entrance bridge, and about 4.6km south of the intersection with Main Rd, Noraville. Signposted ‘Wyrrabalong National Park’).

Maps for the Wetland trail to Rainforest walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-wyrrabnp-wttr
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-wyrrabnp-wttr
Forecast snapshot